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2001 Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey Northeastern Ontario
EXPERIMENTAL STRATUM
May 2001
Stratum Surveyed
57
Survey Conducted and Data Supplied by
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Aerial Crews
Pilot/Observer Mark D. Koneff, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Observer Charles Kitchens-Hayes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
This stratum has been surveyed during three of the past twelve years in conjunction with the
Black Duck Joint Venture to provide waterfowl breeding population estimates for northeastern
Ontario to the south and west of James Bay. In contrast to recent warm and dry winters, this
region experienced cold temperatures and significant snowfall during the winter of 2000-2001,
resulting in generally good breeding habitat conditions. A warm and relatively dry spring
provided conditions favorable for waterfowl production. Dabblers were not abundant. Divers
were more abundant with good numbers of scaup, goldeneye, bufflehead, and particularly ring-necked
ducks. No scoters or oldsquaw were observed. The estimate of breeding Canada geese
was similar to that in 1992, but substantially below the 1992-1993 mean.
Methods
The procedures followed in conducting this survey are detailed in the Standard Operating
Procedures for Aerial Waterfowl Breeding Ground Population and Habitat Survey, Section III,
revised April 1987. A Partenavia P68 Observer aircraft was used for the survey. Visibility
corrections were obtained using Bayesian updating procedures and pooled data from an ongoing
helicopter visibility bias correction study being conducted in eastern Canada.
Since 1998, waterfowl and habitat data have been collected using an onboard digital recording
system designed to attribute each waterfowl observation with a geographic location recorded in
latitude/longitude. During data transcription, each observation is associated with pertinent
information (i.e., stratum, transect, and segment, time, weather conditions, and geographic
location).
Stratum 57 has been surveyed, or partially surveyed, 3 of the past 11 years, 1992, 1993, and
2001. All 6 transects have been surveyed only in 1993. Only 4 of 6 transects were flown in 2001
because fuel unavailability. The 1992, 1993, and 2001 population estimates in Table 2
correspond to the Southern Unit of Stratum 57. The Southern Unit is a subset of Stratum 57
containing transects 1 - 4. Estimates for the Southern Unit are presented for the sake of
comparison among the 3 years that the survey has been conducted, since only transects 1 – 4
have been surveyed in all years. Additionally, because the stratum areas used in previous pilot
reports were inaccurate, we present population estimates for the entire Stratum 57 for 1993
(Table 3). Visibility correction factors used in estimating populations in all 3 years are presented
in Table 4.
Weather and Habitat Conditions
Stratum 57: Terrain in this stratum varies from slightly rolling, elevated, and drier south of
James Bay to the nearly flat, wet lowlands in western portions of the stratum. Well-developed
river systems drain into James Bay in this stratum. Wetlands in the southeast consist primarily
of smaller bogs and wooded wetlands. Large bogs and ribbed fens commonly referred to as
“string bogs” constitute much of the western portion of stratum 57, corresponding to the James
Bay lowlands physiographic region.
The winter of 2000-2001 in this region was cold with and good snow accumulations. Relatively
warm and dry spring weather, in conjunction with improved wetland conditions, should favor
waterfowl production in 2001.
Table 1. Survey design for Northeastern Ontario, 2001.
STRATUM
57
Survey Design
Square Miles in Stratum
69,302
Linear Miles Sampled in Stratum 1188
Number of Transects in Stratum 6
Number of Segments in Stratum 66
Expansion Factor 233.34
Current Year Coverage
Square Miles in Stratum (So. Unit)
42,382.5
Linear Miles in Sample 900
Number of Transects in Sample 4
Number of Segments in Sample 50
Expansion Factor 188.37
1993 Coverage
Square Miles in Stratum (So. Unit)
42,382.5
Linear Miles in Sample 792
Number of Transects in Sample 4
Number of Segments in Sample 44
Expansion Factor 214.05
1993 Coverage
Square Miles in Stratum (Full
Stratum)
69,302
Linear Miles in Sample 1080
Number of Transects in Sample 6
Number of Segments in Sample 60
Expansion Factor 256.67
1992 Coverage
Square Miles in Stratum (So. Unit)
42,382.5
Linear Miles in Sample 738
Number of Transects in Sample 4
Number of Segments in Sample 41
Expansion Factor 229.71
Breeding Populations
Dabblers over all were not abundant. Mallard and American black duck estimates were 35.3%
and 38.3% below their 1992-1993 means for the Southern Unit, respectively. In contrast, divers
were more abundant with good numbers of scaup, goldeneye, bufflehead, and particularly ring-necked
ducks. Goldeneye estimates were up 211.3% from the 1992-1993 mean, while
bufflehead estimates were 930.6% higher. Ring-necked ducks were particularly abundant at an
estimated 73.6 thousand birds, up 252.8% from the 1992-1993 mean. No scoters or oldsquaw
were observed in 2001 on transects 1 – 4. The estimated number of breeding Canada geese was
similar the 1992-1993 mean.
Table 2. Status of waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands, adjusted for visibility bias) by species with comparisons
against 1992 and 1993 estimates for the western James Bay lowlands, Southern Unit.
Stratum 57 (Southern Unit)
Species/Ponds 2001 1993 1992 1992-1993 % Change From
Mean 1992-1993 Mean
Ducks
bblers
ivers
Da
Mallard 17.6 4.7 49.6 27.1 -35.3
Am.black duck 6.5 0.0 21.2 10.6 -38.3
Gadwall 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.7 --
Am. wigeon 0.0 2.2 2.4 2.3 -100.0
Am. green-winged teal 8.1 0.0 4.9 2.4 231.7
Blue-winged teal 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 --
N. shoveler 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 --
N. pintail 0.0 0.0 2.4 1.2 -100.0
Subtotal
D
32.2 8.2 80.5 44.4 -27.5
Redhead 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 --
Canvasback 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 --
Scaups 11.9 3.6 6.9 5.3 127.1
Ring-necked duck
73.6 30.3 11.4 20.9 252.8
Goldeneyes 42.7 13.2 14.2 13.7 211.3
Bufflehead 14.5 0.0 2.8 1.4 930.6
Ruddy Duck 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 --
Subtotal 142.7 47.1 35.3 41.2 246.1
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.5 -100.0
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 --
Scoters 0.0 0.0 26.8 13.4 -100.0
Mergansers 7.3 6.1 6.9 6.5 12.4
Subtotal 7.3 6.1 34.7 20.4 -64.1
Total Ducks 182.2 61.5 150.4 106.0 71.9
Canada Goose 70.8 63.7 77.8 70.7 0.1
A merican Coot 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 --
Table 3. Status of waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands, adjusted for visibility bias) by species in 1993 for the western
James Bay lowlands.
Stratum 57 (Entire Stratum)
Species/Ponds 1993
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 22.9
Am.black duck 8.7
Gadwall 1.0
Am. wigeon 1.6
Am. green-winged teal 2.8
Blue-winged teal 0.0
N. shoveler 0.0
N. pintail
1.7
Subtotal 38.7
Divers
Redhead 0.0
Canvasback 0.0
Scaups 6.5
Ring-necked duck 26.8
Goldeneyes 18.2
Bufflehead 0.5
Ruddy Duck
0.0
Subtotal 51.9
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0
Eiders 0.0
Scoters 3.6
Mergansers 5.5
Subtotal 9.1
Total Ducks 99.7
Canada Goose 97.3
American Coot 0.0
Table 4. Visibility correction factors by species and year used in waterfowl breeding population estimation for the western James Bay
lowlands.
Stratum 57
Species/Ponds 1992 1993 2001
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 2.84 3.65 1.941328
Am.black duck
2.88 2.76 2.165301
Gadwall 3.04 3.04 3.04
Am. wigeon 5.24 5.24 4.529145
Am. green-winged teal 1.18 1.49 5.369232
Blue-winged teal
7.43 7.43 10.31
N. shoveler 3.48 3.48 3.49
N. pintail 2.65 2.65 2.66
Divers
Redhead 3.11 3.11 3.11
Canvasback
2.58 2.58 2.59
Scaups 0.68 0.68 1.98
Ring-necked duck
3.83 4.16 3.075554
Goldeneyes 7.72 7.72 7.55
Bufflehead 1.53 1.53 2.024379
Ruddy Duck 5.94 5.94 5.94
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 1.99 1.99 1.99
Scoters 1.27 1.27 1.45
Mergansers 0.77 1.1 1.295425
Canada Goose 2.73 2.73 2.722313
A merican Coot 4.71 4.71 4.71